In this thesis paper, each of the three black autobiographical writings will be discussed in chronological order. The paper begins with Frederick Douglass’s Narrative from 1845, continues with W.E.B. Du Bois’s Darkwater from 1920 and finishes with The Autobiography of Malcolm X from 1965. The purpose of this chronological organization is to better trace the development of black autobiographical writing over the period of 120 years.
Each autobiography’s discussion is divided up into three distinguishable components. A summary of each memoir provides a background against which the further stylistic and thematic discussions can be attempted. Secondly, the historical circumstances, basic structure and narrative techniques of the respective eras of black autobiographical writing and of the specific works will be discussed. The purpose is to closely look at typical features (or, in the case of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, genres) of black autobiographical writings in each period and then, in a second step, analyze each work’s specific stylistic and narrative peculiarities. The third and last component of each autobiography’s discussion is a close textual interpretation. It shall analyze the development of the self-image of each author as presented in his autobiographical work. These observations will be synthesized in the Conclusion of this thesis paper.
The eventual aim of this study is to prove the three thesis elements. First of all, it shall be demonstrated that African-Americans have written autobiographies to comment on the unjust societies they have been living in since slavery. Secondly, it shall be proven that the three distinguishable stages of black autobiographical writing are best represented by this selection of books. And finally, one will see that the self-images of the authors as presented to the reader in these works show similarities in many respects, and thus continuity in the status of African-Americans in US society is visible.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
2.1 Summary
2.2 Basic Structure and Narrative Techniques
2.2.1 The Genre of the Slave Narrative
2.2.1.1 Historical Circumstances
2.2.1.2 Typical Stylistic Features of the Slave Narrative
2.2.1.3 Intentions and Purposes of the Slave Narrative
2.2.1.4 Relationship between “Autobiography” and “Slave Narrative”
2.2.2 Basic Structure and Narrative Techniques of the Narrative
2.3 Textual Interpretation
2.3.1 “I suffered little from any thing else than hunger and cold” –
Douglass’s Childhood on the Plantation
2.3.2 “A Sense of my own manhood” – Knowledge and Resistance
2.3.3 “I left my chains” – Escape and Freedom
3. W.E.B. Du Bois: Darkwater – Voices from within the Veil
3.1 Summary
3.2 Basic Structure and Narrative Techniques
3.2.1 Black Writing at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century
3.2.1.1 Historical Circumstances
3.2.1.2 Literary Forms, Strategies and Works
3.2.1.3 Literary Influences
3.2.1.4 Stylistic Features
3.2.2 Basic Structure and Narrative Techniques of Darkwater
3.3 Textual Interpretation
3.3.1 “Thank God! no ‘Anglo-Saxon’” – Du Bois as a Victim of Racial Oppression and as Black Leader
3.3.2 “It is the mother I ever recall” – Du Bois's Concern for Women
3.3.3 “Awake, O ancient race!” – Du Bois and his African Roots
4. The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965)
4.1 Summary
4.2 Basic Structure and Narrative Techniques
4.2.1 Black Literature in the 1960’s
4.2.1.1 Historical Circumstances for Writing
4.2.1.2 Literary Forms, Strategies and Works
4.2.1.3 The Autobiographical Genre vs. Black Autobiographies
4.2.1.4 The Conversion or Educational Narrative
4.2.1.5 Other Genres for Classifying The Autobiography
4.2.2 Basic Structure and Narrative Techniques of The Autobiography of Malcolm X
4.3 Textual Interpretation
4.3.1 From “Mascot” to “Hustler”: Childhood and Adolescence
4.3.2 From “Satan” to “Minister Malcolm X”: Convert and Black Muslim
4.3.3 “El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz”: Malcolm and his Break with the “Nation of Islam”
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This thesis examines the development of the self-image in black autobiographical writing through a critical analysis of three canonical works: Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845), W.E.B. Du Bois's Darkwater (1920), and The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965). The central research objective is to demonstrate that African-American authors have consistently used the autobiographical genre as a powerful political and social commentary to critique the unjust societies in which they lived. By analyzing these texts chronologically, the study aims to trace how the authors construct their identities against the backdrop of changing historical circumstances, ranging from slavery to the post-Reconstruction era and the Black Revolution of the 1960s.
- The formal and thematic evolution of black autobiography across three distinct historical stages.
- The influence of racial oppression and segregation on the construction of a public self-image.
- The strategic use of literary techniques, such as double-consciousness and conversion narratives, to address dual audiences.
- The role of literacy and education as catalysts for identity formation and resistance.
- The intersection of African heritage, pan-Africanism, and political activism in black autobiographical discourse.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3.1 “I suffered little from any thing else than hunger and cold” – Douglass’s Childhood on the Plantation
I was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from Easton, in Talbot county, Maryland. I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of theirs, and it is the wish of most masters within my knowledge to keep their slaves thus ignorant.100
This sequence is the opening sentence of Frederick Douglass’s Narrative. Born to Harriet Bailey, who is “of a darker complexion than either [his] grandmother or grandfather”, and “a white man […] admitted to be such by all [he] ever heard speak of [his] parentage”, young Frederick from the beginning of his life has to cope with two heavy burdens: His master is most likely his father, and he is separated from his mother “when [he] was but an infant – before [he] knew her as [his] mother”.101 With this – for the times of slavery not atypical but for modern readers unbelievable – family background, and without any correct knowledge of his age, how does Frederick Douglass’s identity as a mulatto child – half black, half white – on the plantation develop?
The influence of his parentage and origin on the author’s concept of self is strong and has been discussed by several scholars. Wardrop observes that by the practice of not telling slaves their date of birth, a “whole segment of the population is positioned outside the signifying circle of the dominating culture”.102 Unlike white children, babies born into slavery simply do not receive this crucial information. Speaking about his age, Douglass tells us he could not tell why he ought to be deprived of the same privilege white children received. His master “deemed all such inquiries on the part of a slave improper and impertinent, and evidence of a restless spirit”.103 Thus, already as a young child, Frederick realizes the differences between being white and black.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the social significance of African-American autobiographical literature and sets the stage for comparing three key texts across different historical eras.
2. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: This chapter analyzes the slave narrative genre and explores how Douglass used his personal history to demand recognition and human rights while navigating the restrictive identity of a slave.
3. W.E.B. Du Bois: Darkwater – Voices from within the Veil: This chapter examines Du Bois's semi-autobiographical collection, focusing on his complex identity as a black leader and his critique of modern colonial and racial structures.
4. The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965): This chapter provides a detailed study of Malcolm X’s evolving identity, from street hustler to Black Muslim minister and finally to a global advocate for human rights.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming the continuity of African-American experiences with racism and the persistent use of autobiography as an instrument for political and social protest.
Keywords
Black Autobiography, Slave Narrative, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X, Racial Oppression, Identity Formation, Double-Consciousness, Civil Rights, Pan-Africanism, Literary Criticism, Conversion Narrative, Social Justice, Resistance, African-American Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores how black autobiographical writing has served as a critical platform for authors to define their self-image and critique the racial injustices of their respective historical periods, from slavery to the mid-20th century.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The key themes include the impact of racial oppression on identity, the role of literacy and self-education, the construction of a public self-image, and the political mobilization of black identity through literary forms.
What is the core objective or research question?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that the works of Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Malcolm X represent a continuous, purposeful effort by African-American authors to use autobiography to voice dissent and demand social change within an exclusionary American society.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study employs literary analysis and critical evaluation, drawing on historical and sociological contexts to interpret the formal structure, stylistic techniques, and evolving self-representations within the primary texts.
What does the main body address?
The main body is divided into three comprehensive chapters, each dedicated to one of the selected authors, detailing the historical context, formal structure, and a close textual interpretation of their life story and self-image construction.
What terms best characterize the scope of this research?
The work is characterized by terms such as Black Autobiography, Slave Narrative, Double-Consciousness, Conversion Narrative, Racial Oppression, and Civil Rights discourse.
How does Du Bois define the "Veil" in Darkwater?
Du Bois uses the "Veil" to represent the invisible, yet persistent barrier of racism that segregates black and white worlds, limiting the social and psychological possibilities for African-Americans in the early 20th century.
Why does Malcolm X reject the "X" symbol in his later life?
Malcolm X did not necessarily reject the "X" symbol itself, but rather evolved beyond the strictly separatist and doctrinal limitations of the Nation of Islam, adopting the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz to reflect his transition into a global, human-rights-focused revolutionary.
- Quote paper
- Moritz Oehl (Author), 2006, The Development of the Self-Image in Black Autobiographical Writing (Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois and Malcolm X), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/65798
